WTA Wild Card Rules
Updated: 3 May 1998
Source - WTA Tour
Most WTA tournaments reserve 2-3 spots in the main draw and
qualifying draw for wild cards, given by tournament directors to
players who otherwise would not secure a direct entry into the
given draw. Following are the rules governing the issuance of
wild cards.
Wild Card Selection Rules
- Tournament directors must notify the WTA TOUR of wild
card nominations at least one week preceding the creation
of the tournament draw.
- If a wild card withdraws after nomination, another wild
card may be selected prior to beginning of qualifying.
Otherwise, a lucky loser from qualifying will take the
place of the wild card.
Wild Card Criteria and Limits
- Under normal circumstances, a player may accept a maximum
of 6 wild cards a year, including a maximum of 3 wild
cards into main draws and a maximum of 3 wild cards into
qualifying.
- Players defined as exempt may receive an unlimited
number of wild cards. [I do not know the precise
definition of "exempt," but for example, Pam
Shriver participates in the Philadelphia 1995 main draw
via exemption.]
- Players who have competed on the tour for at least 10
years are eligible to received up to 3 additional wild
cards.
- Past singles champions of Grand Slam events or the WTA
Championships has unlimited wild card privileges into
main draw singles events.
- Past doubles champions of Grand Slam events or the WTA
Championships has unlimited wild card privileges into
main draw doubles events.
- Players under the age of 18 are subject to the guidelines
in the Age Eligibility Rules
document.
Comments and suggestions to [email protected].